Junior doctors’ industrial action

Front of the main hospital buildings at St Helier and the front of our emergency Department at Epsom

Following the junior doctors’ ballot on industrial action, we wanted to assure local people that we are working hard to make sure any disruption to services is kept to a minimum, wherever possible.

However, patients and visitors to our hospitals should be aware that the BMA have encouraged their junior doctor members to take the following action:

To provide emergency care only — from 8am, Tuesday 1 December to 8am Wednesday 2 December
A full walk out — from 8am to 5pm, Tuesday 8 December
A full walk out — from 8am to 5pm, Wednesday 16 December.

We are, as you would expect, taking the appropriate measures to ensure that services and the quality of patient care we provide are not comprised.

If there are changes to an appointment that you have arranged at our hospitals on any day of action, we will contact you. If you do not hear from us, please assume your appointment remains unchanged.

We encourage patients to check our website (www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk) for more information about appointments.

Patients and the wider public can also help us to ensure that the NHS continues to operate as effectively as possible during this busy period:

Those people looking after especially vulnerable groups – such as the elderly, children and people with long-term conditions – should contact their GP if they have concerns about accessing medical care during the course of this industrial action.
Patients in need of urgent and emergency care will continue to receive the treatment they need, when they need it. However, due to increased pressures on the NHS over this period, those in less urgent need of care may experience longer waiting times than normal and some elective operations may need to be postponed or rearranged. In all cases priority will be given to those patients with the most pressing health needs.
People are also reminded of the other healthcare options available instead of calling 999 – such as visiting their pharmacist or GP, calling NHS 111 or using NHS Choices (nhs.uk).